Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2007-08: Tyler Wotherspoon was chosen in the second round, 23rd overall, of the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft by the Portland Winterhawks.

2008-09: Wotherspoon played most of the season with the Valley West Hawks in the BCMML. In 37 games, he scored 11 goals and added 13 assists for 24 points to go along with 85 penalty minutes. Wotherspoon also saw his first WHL action with the Winterhawks, registering no points in 4 games for that club.

2009-10: In his WHL rookie season, Wotherspoon played in 43 games for the Winterhawks. He scored 1 goal and added 4 assists for 5 points. In 2 playoff games, Wotherspoon registered no points. Wotherspoon played for Team Pacific at the 2010 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, registering no points in 5 games.

2010-11: In 64 games for the Winterhawks, Wotherspoon scored 2 goals and added 10 assists for 12 points to go along with 73 minutes in penalties. In 19 playoff games, he scored 2 goals and added 1 assist for 3 points. Wotherspoon played for Team Cherry at the 2011 CHL Home Hardware Top Prospects Game.

2011-12: Wotherspoon returned to junior hockey for his third season with the Portland Winterhawks. He was one of four Portland defensemen with 20 or more points on a high-flyiing Winterhawks team that led the WHL in scoring. Wotherspoon scored 7 goals with 21 assists, both career highs, and was plus-18 with 42 penalty minutes in 67 games. After finishing two points behind Tri-City in the U.S. Division, with the WHL’s third-best record, Portland advanced to the playoff finals against the Edmonton Oil Kings. Wotherspoon scored 1 goal with 6 assists and was plus-11 with 6 penalty minutes in 22 playoff games.

2012-13: Wotherspoon, overshadowed by high profile prospects Seth Jones (Nashville) and Derrick Pouliot (Pittsburgh) on the Portland Winterhawks’ blueline, had the team’s second best plus/minus (+62); trailing only center Nicolas Petan (+68). He scored 7 goals with 30 assists and had 30 penalty minutes in 61 games. The Winterhawks finished first in the U.S. Division and reached the WHL Finals for the third straight season; defeating Edmonton for the first championship in club history. Wotherspoon scored 2 goals with 8 assists and was +11 with 20 penalty minutes in 21 playoff games. Portland reached the Memorial Cup championship game. Wotherspoon scored 1 goal with 2 assists and was +6 with 4 penalty minutes in five Memorial Cup games. He represented Canada at the 2013 World Junior Championship and in six games scored 1 goal with 1 assist. Canada finished fourth after an overtime loss to host Russia in the bronze medal game. Wotherspoon signed a three-year entry-level contract with Calgary in March, 2013.

2013-14: Wotherspoon appeared in 14 NHL games for the Flames as a 20-year-old and skated for Calgary AHL affiliate Abbotsford in his first pro season. Making his NHL debut in a March 7th game against the Islanders, he finished with 4 assists and was -3 with 4 penalty minutes while averaging 13:27 minutes of ice time during his stint with the Flames. Wotherspoon played 48 regular season games for Abbotsford, scoring 1 goal with 8 assists, and was +13 with 12 penalty minutes. The Heat finished second in the West Division before losing to Grand Rapids in a first round series. Wotherspoon was with Calgary during the AHL playoffs.

2014-15: Wotherspoon joined Calgary at the end of the season from AHL affiliate Adirondack — skating in the final regular season game against Winnipeg and in six playoff games in his second pro season. He was briefly recalled by Calgary in late January but did not appear in any games and was -3 with no points nor penalties in 20 minutes of ice time against the Jets. Wotherspoon had an even plus/minus with no points nor penalties, averaging six minutes of ice time in the playoffs. He played in all situations for the Adirondack Flames, scoring 2 goals with 22 assists and finishing -1 with 20 penalty minutes in 61 AHL games. Adirondack missed the playoffs, finishing fourth in the North Division.

Talent Analysis

Wotherspoon is a skilled two-way defenseman who plays with a high intensity compete level. He is effective in front of his own net, possessing the size and strength to allow his goaltender a clear view of oncoming shots. He has continued to address his mobility and puck moving skills and plays in all situations.

Future

Wotherspoon enters his third pro season competing for a lower line role with the Calgary Flames in 2015-16. The addition of Dougie Hamilton made an already crowded defense corps more competitive and Calgary also signed 27-year-old Czech defenseman Jakub Nakladal in the off-season. Wotherspoon may start the year with new AHL affiliate Stockton. Long-term he projects as a first or second pairing defender capable of contributing to the attack if he can continue to refine his game.

Photo: Calgary Flames prospect Brandon Hickey was on the wrong side of the National Championship game but had an outstanding freshman campaign for Boston University (courtesy of Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

After completing an exceptional regular season and never giving up, the Calgary Flames have found a way to win and return to the playoffs after six years without a post-season appearance. Coincidentally, Lance Bouma and TJ Brodie were drafted the last time the Flames were in the playoffs. Since then the Calgary Flames have stockpiled a group of talented prospects which includes Michael Ferland, Markus Granlund, Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and most recently, Sam Bennett. Collectively, they have been an integral part of the team and the success found this season.

Photo: Toronto Marlies forward and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Connor Brown was chosen to take part in the 2015 AHL All-Star Classic in January (courtesy of Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

The American Hockey League’s Western Conference will undergo some major re-structuring over the summer as five AHL teams will be playing in California beginning in the 2015-16 season. But before the westward expansion takes place, there are several elite prospects playing in the Western Conference this season looking to make the full-time jump to the NHL. Read more»

Photo: Calgary Flames prospect Markus Granlund is part of the team’s solid depth at center. (courtesy of Minas Panagiotakis/Icon Sportswire)

After five seasons of not making the playoffs, the Calgary Flames appear to be on the verge of returning to post-season action. The emergences of Johnny Gaudreau and Josh Jooris have assisted in the drive for the playoffs and are among the top ranking prospects in the system. Meanwhile, the AHL’s Adirondack Flames also find themselves in the playoff hunt with key contributions from Emile Poirier and Joni Ortio. Michael Ferland and Ryan Culkin make their first appearances on the Top 20 list, while Sven Baertschi has graduated from prospect status.

Photo: Adirondack Flames rookie forward and Calgary Flames prospect Emile Poirier has generated some offense for the surging AHL Flames, who currently sit second in the North Division (courtesy of Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

While the Eastern Conference has seen some teams off to hot starts early this season, the best three records in the American Hockey League (AHL) currently belong to the Western Conference – and that doesn’t even include last year’s Calder Cup champion Texas Stars, who are currently just eighth best in the conference. The Midwest Division alone is home to three of the league’s top five teams through the first seven weeks of the season, providing some entertaining hockey to fans out West. Read more»